The night of long Knives

The SA’s Position Before the Purge

What role did the SA play before 1934?

The SA was the Nazi Party’s main instrument of terror and violence from the early years of the movement and during the initial phase of establishing the dictatorship

How did the SA change after January 1933?

After the Nazis came to power the SA expanded rapidly using state resources

How large did the SA become?

Membership grew from around 500,000 in January 1933 to approximately 3 million by 1934 under the leadership of Ernst Röhm

What legal authority did the SA gain?

After January 1933 the SA’s activities gained legal authority

How was the SA linked to the police?

In late February 1933 the SA and the Stahlhelm were merged and recognised as auxiliary police and regular police were ordered not to interfere with SA actions

What did Röhm and the SA represent ideologically?

Röhm and the SA represented the more radical and socialist wing of Nazism

What was meant by the Second Revolution?

The SA called for a Second Revolution to remove the traditional elite and introduce genuinely socialist policies such as nationalising banks and industry which were popular among SA members

Reasons for the Purge Pressures on Hitler

Why did the SA become a problem by 1934?

By mid 1934 the SA had become an embarrassment to the regime and had outlived its usefulness

What two main pressures pushed Hitler to act?

Hitler faced pressure from the Nazi Left represented by the SA and from the Right represented by the army and conservative elite

Threat from the Nazi Left SA

Why did Röhm threaten Hitler’s position?

Röhm openly claimed the SA was the true Nazi Revolution and criticised Hitler for working with conservative elites

What were Röhm’s military ambitions?

Röhm wanted to merge the 3 million strong SA with the regular army to create a people’s militia under his influence

How did the SA challenge the army?

SA units began interfering with army activities and seizing supplies in the summer of 1934

Why was Röhm personally embarrassing to Hitler?

Röhm’s behaviour and radical views damaged the regime’s image now that the Nazis were in power

Threat and Pressure from the Right Army and Conservatives

Why was the army so important to Hitler?

The army was the only institution capable of removing Hitler from power

Who was the army loyal to?

The army remained loyal to President Hindenburg rather than Hitler

Why did the army oppose the SA?

Army leaders saw the SA and Röhm’s ambitions as a direct threat to their status and independence

How did conservatives express their concerns?

Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen criticised Nazi excesses in a speech at Marburg University on June 17 1934 calling for an end to terror and radicalism

What ultimatum forced Hitler to act?

Defence Minister von Blomberg backed by Hindenburg threatened martial law and army intervention against the SA

The Night of the Long Knives

What was the purge called?

The purge became known as the Night of the Long Knives

When did it take place?

It began on June 30 1934

Who carried out the purge?

The SS under Heinrich Himmler carried out the arrests and killings

What happened to Röhm?

Röhm was arrested and later executed on Hitler’s orders

Why did Hitler widen the purge?

Hitler used the purge to eliminate other political enemies and settle old scores

Victims and Consequences

Who were some key victims of the purge?

Victims included former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher Gregor Strasser Gustav von Kahr and members of Papen’s staff

What happened to Papen?

Papen was placed under house arrest which destroyed his remaining political influence

How many people were killed?

Estimates vary but most historians suggest around 90 people were killed including over 50 SA leaders

Consequences and Significance of the Night of the Long Knives

Why was the Night of the Long Knives a turning point?

It secured Hitler’s personal supremacy removed internal opposition and laid the foundations of the SS state

How did Hitler justify the purge publicly?

On July 13 1934 Hitler defended his actions to the Reichstag claiming he acted as the supreme judge of the German people to prevent an SA coup

How was the purge legalised?

On July 3 1934 the Reichstag passed a law declaring the killings justifiable acts of self defence by the state

Why was this significant legally?

It showed that violence carried out on Hitler’s orders could be retrospectively legalised proving that the rule of law had been replaced by the will of the Führer

Impact on the Army

Why did the purge secure army support?

The army viewed the SA as a direct threat and welcomed the destruction of Röhm and his ambitions

What price did Hitler pay for army loyalty?

He sacrificed the SA leadership especially Röhm to remove the army’s greatest rival

How did the army respond?

Defence Minister Blomberg praised Hitler’s soldierly decision to crush the traitors

What was the longer term consequence?

The purge paved the way for the army to swear an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler after Hindenburg’s death

Impact on the SA

What happened to the SA after June 1934?

Its political power was destroyed and it ceased to be a major political force

How did SA membership change?

Membership fell sharply to around 1 point 6 million by October 1935

Why was this important?

The SA was reduced to a subordinate organisation with no independent influence

Rise of the SS

How did the purge affect the SS?

It massively strengthened the SS and its leader Heinrich Himmler

Who now controlled terror?

After June 1934 the SS controlled the entire terror apparatus of the Nazi state

How did terror change?

Violence and repression continued but were now used more systematically and in a more controlled and bureaucratic manner under SS direction

Impact on Conservative Elites

Why did the purge intimidate conservatives?

Hitler used the opportunity to murder conservative critics such as General Schleicher and members of Papen’s circle

What was the effect?

Conservative opponents were frightened into submission and ceased organised resistance

How did Papen end up?

Papen was politically neutralised and lost any remaining influence

Wider Significance

What did the purge reveal about the Nazi state?

It showed that the new regime was not a traditional authoritarian system but a personal dictatorship

Why was Hindenburg’s response important?

His immediate acceptance of the purge demonstrated elite approval of Hitler’s lawlessness

How did ordinary Germans react?

The event left many Germans frightened and aware that anyone could share the fate of the SA men

Overall significance?

The Night of the Long Knives removed rivals secured elite support strengthened the SS and confirmed Hitler’s absolute power